New York Knicks News Mix, 6/7/17: Would Carmelo Anthony Have Helped Cavs?
Feb 23, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) defends New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 119-104. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

NBA experts weigh in on whether or not a trade for New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony would’ve helped the Cavs in the NBA Finals.

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were struggling around the trade deadline, and rumors of a deal involving Kevin Love popped up again. This time they included James’ friend, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.

A report from Frank Isola of The New York Daily News said that James was pushing Cleveland to include Love in a deal for Anthony (something James angrily denied), but it obviously never came to fruition.

Now the Cavs are staring down a 2-0 hole in the finals after two blowout losses against the dominant Golden State Warriors, and it’s left some to wonder if they made the right decision in not trading for Anthony.

The experts weighed in with their opinions. Speaking to Marc Berman of The New York Post, they were in agreement that Anthony’s presence wouldn’t have made a difference against the Warriors juggernaut.

Former Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks is one guy who weighed in.

Marks was with the Nets during the Billy King years. He started in ’95 and left the organization in 2010.

Now working with Adrian Wojnarowski’s Vertical Network, Marks has seen Anthony up close many times.

“In regards to this series and matching up versus Golden State, I don’t see how Carmelo would have made an impact in this series,’’ said former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks, who is now The Vertical’s trade analyst. “The defensive side of the ball would have been a major issue since Cleveland would not be able to hide him. Plus who does he guard? Draymond [Green]. Carmelo at this stage is best in the halfcourt. Ty Lue has made it clear that this Cleveland team is best getting up and down the floor. Plus he would have trouble scoring with [Kevin] Durant or Green on him.”

Berman also cites one NBA assistant coach who’s in agreement with Marks. They point out the most common criticism of Anthony, his predilection for holding onto the ball.

An isolation style of offense doesn’t work against the Warriors. You have to move the ball.

Anthony is best at isolation and the Warriors’ defense is so ferocious, isolationists and players who don’t move the ball feed into Steve Kerr’s defensive game plan. Also, James is struggling enough with Durant. Imagine Anthony.

In Anthony’s defense, it doesn’t seem like any player in the league would make a difference against this Warriors team.

They’ve dominated a team with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. They’ve won 14 playoff games in a row.

Saying the ten-time All-Star wouldn’t be a help against arguably the greatest basketball team of all time isn’t much of an insult. It’s not an insult at all.